WHO IS GOT GENEALOGY? – I’m a professional genealogist, and have been for over a decade. I’ve also worked as a computer professional for over 20 years supporting Mac, PC and Unix systems for all sorts of companies, riding the dot-com boom during the 90s, while providing excellent desktop and network support, systems administration and end-user training for a variety of software products.  I’ve woven my extensive computer skills with my love of genealogy and my passion for helping others into Got Genealogy? where I have a knack for taking even the most difficult topics and making them easy for anyone to understand.

MY MISSION – Simply, to help you find your ancestors so that you, the storyteller of your generation, can tell those stories as completely and as accurately as possible. We believe that all available tools should be used, and that the easier they are to use, the greater success you’ll have, and the more success you have, the longer you’ll tend to stick to your research. Your ancestors have left an incredible legacy and we want to help you document all that their lives accomplished.IT’S ALLABOUT THE STORIES – Some of us were blessed with a strong family support structure, rich with amazing stories of courage, perseverance, strength, honor and accomplishment – and we knew, from an early age, where we belong in the world and we’re motivated to share our knowledge and wisdom in the same vein.  But some of us (like me), didn’t have that kind of support, and all we got were negative stories about ourselves, our relatives, our future chances in life – and we spent years feeling like we just don’t “fit” anywhere.  Those negative stories defined us, and in my case, led to self loathing, low self esteem, self-destructive behavior, and even suicide attempts. I just didn’t want to  continue to live in a world where I didn’t belong anywhere.My life was truly transformed through genealogy.  I know it sounds corny, but it’s true.  I don’t blame my parents for the things they said and did, but I had to jump past them, and research my ancestors, where I found amazing stories of ingenuity, creativity, strength beyond all measure, forgiveness and unconditional love.  By finding my ancestors’ stories, I discovered my own.  My genealogy allowed me to shake off all the negative stories with which I’d been raised, and embrace the inspirational stories I uncovered from lives long past.  It’s all about the stories.

WHY ONLINE RESEARCH? – More and more organizations are placing digital images and entire collections online, in searchable formats, so that serious researchers can do a greater portion of research from their home computers. However, online research is just one part of the process and MUST be used in concert with old-fashioned, tried and true research methods such as perusing books, maps, registers and other sources in libraries, archives, museums, cemeteries, etc. If you complete more of your research online, then when you are lucky enough to get the chance to spend time in that archive or courthouse, then you’ll have more quality time to concentrate on finding those documents, papers and pieces of evidence that can ONLY be found in person. Online research can help you identify potential sources of information and actually increase your chances of success when researching offline.

ANYONE CAN DO THIS – Family research is not everyone’s cup of tea. I get that. At the same time, though, we know that for those of you with the desire to discover your family’s stories, basic genealogical research techniques can be learned by virtually anyone. Don’t kid yourself – it takes time, goo-gobs of time, and incredible patience. But if you’re willing to give it a try, I’ll meet you half way and will try my best to give you some cool tools that will help you be successful in you search.

Remember, it’s all about the stories.  Now, let’s go find your stories.